Saturday, November 15, 2008

...'bout a man named Jed and his family better known as The Beverly Hillbillies my new favorite show (though nothing will ever top Bewitched).

I used to watch the show sometimes when it was on in the afternoon re-runs when I was younger but I didn't take a yen to it, mainly because it didn't have any magic to it like Bewitched and I Dream of Jeannie did. I also thought it dumb that these hillbillies would still act like that living in such a cool place as Beverly Hills!

Just a couple months ago it was announced that the Second Season of the show was going to be released on DVD with the original sponsor openings and closings included!! Now one that thing that I LOVE about classic TV is seeing the old commercials or the variations on the theme songs. Not many people are aware that when TV shows in the 50s and 60s originally aired they used sponsors to support them and a lot of times the sponsors were integrated into the opening of the show. Here is an example of the two sponsors from the Beverly Hillbillies:

These rare pieces of film are never seen in re-runs and I think they add to the mystique of whatever show it is. Bewitched had their own sponsors but none of those openings are included on the DVD releases so I wanted to see how this would look on the Beverly Hillbillies.

There is a lot of legal mumbo-jumbo concerning the First Season that has seen many DVD releases but not any of them really good except for a two volume set that also included these rare openings and cast commercials. I happened to find the second volume at FYE but when I got it home it was missing two discs. But the ones that were on there were FANTASTIC!! It also happened that WGN started airing the Beverly Hillbillies from the beginning, so I started watching it.

What a funny show!! And I do have to say totally believable that they would move to Beverly Hills and maintain their hick lifestyle. What I also noticed is that they have good moral values that they try to look for in others. But mainly, just simply hysterical!

My sister ended up buying me the Second Season and I've just enjoyed it all to pieces! I pert near double-up in laughter whenever I watch it! I would totally suggest purchasing it if you're looking for some good laughs and fun. And the best thing? There are still seven seasons to go!

Tuesday, November 04, 2008

It has only been a couple hours since Barack Obama was elected as the 44th President of the United States of America.

But more signifigantly he is the first African-American President to be elected in our nation's history. I am proud to say I was a part of that.

In every election previously I have always voted for the Republican nominee and almost did so this year. But the more I listened to Obama, even more so, read up on Obama and John McCain, the more I felt good about casting my vote for Obama. My feeling about that was solidified in August when the Vice-President nominees were announced and McCain chose the beautiful, but bewildering, Sarah Palin (who can see Russia from her house!).

But back to this evening. Unfortunately the only word I can find to describe my feelings is AWESOME! We essentially are witnessing one of the all time great moments in American history. To me, I feel like we are witnessing the signing of the Constitution, Abraham Lincoln's Gettysburg Address and Dr. Martin Luther King Jr's "I have a dream" speech. No other generation, with the exception of the one that will see a woman elected president, will have such a great opportunity and blessing.

I do not think Obama is perfect. However, I do believe he honestly has the best intentions and ideas and is more than willing to work for the improvement of our Nation, which right now is hurting....badly!

So I tip my hat to Obama!! And I tip my hat to John McCain, who so graciously offered up his support of Obama. And I tip my hat to those of you who voted, for whoever you voted for. Way to exercise your right and freedom as a citizen of this blessed United States of America!

I should've posted before now because my resolution to show my dad I love him came to fruition well over two weeks ago.

I actually had to get a real big kick in the butt from our Father in Heaven to do so, but sometimes that's needed. What happened is that I was asked to teach a lesson in the Elders Quorum at Church. My lesson was based on President Thomas S. Monson's (leader of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints) Sunday morning address at October 2008 General Conference. His talk was entitled "Finding Joy in the Journey" (you can read the transcript of this at the link provided). What hit me specifically was this statement:

Send that note to the friend you’ve been neglecting; give your child a hug; give your parents a hug; say “I love you” more; always express your thanks. Never let a problem to be solved become more important than a person to be loved. Friends move away, children grow up, loved ones pass on. It’s so easy to take others for granted, until that day when they’re gone from our lives and we are left with feelings of “what if” and “if only.” Said author Harriet Beecher Stowe, “The bitterest tears shed over graves are for words left unsaid and deeds left undone.”

During my lesson I shared with those Elders what I had shared here on the blog. One of them spoke up and told me how importat he felt it was that I do go ahead and share my love for my dad with my dad because his opportunity had been taken about five months ago when his own father passed. He also mentioned how awful the process of grieving over your parent is, especially if you have regrets.

And so it was that evening when my father came home from work, and we were having a late night talk that I gave him a hug. He was really pleased and so was I.

So don't put it off, whether it's your parents, your spouse, your children, your siblings or your friends. You never know when the moment will forever be gone.